Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
  • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
  • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
  • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
  • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
  • A61K49/08—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by the carrier
  • A61K49/10—Organic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
  • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
  • A61K49/18—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K49/00—Preparations for testing in vivo
  • A61K49/06—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations
  • A61K49/18—Nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR] contrast preparations; Magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] contrast preparations characterised by a special physical form, e.g. emulsions, microcapsules, liposomes
  • A61K49/1806—Suspensions, emulsions, colloids, dispersions
  • A61K49/1815—Suspensions, emulsions, colloids, dispersions compo-inhalant, e.g. breath tests
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R33/00—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
  • G01R33/20—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance
  • G01R33/44—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance using nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR]
  • G01R33/48—NMR imaging systems
  • G01R33/54—Signal processing systems, e.g. using pulse sequences ; Generation or control of pulse sequences; Operator console
  • G01R33/56—Image enhancement or correction, e.g. subtraction or averaging techniques, e.g. improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and resolution
  • G01R33/5601—Image enhancement or correction, e.g. subtraction or averaging techniques, e.g. improvement of signal-to-noise ratio and resolution involving use of a contrast agent for contrast manipulation, e.g. a paramagnetic, super-paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or hyperpolarised contrast agent
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
  • G01R—MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES
  • G01R33/00—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables
  • G01R33/20—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance
  • G01R33/62—Arrangements or instruments for measuring magnetic variables involving magnetic resonance using double resonance

Definitions

• MRI magnetic resonance imaging
• Magnetic resonance imaging is a diagnostic technique that has become particularly attractive to physicians as it is non-invasive and does not involve exposing the patient under study to potentially harmful radiation such as X-rays.
• MR contrast agents e.g. paramagnetic metal species
• the imaging nuclei the nuclei whose MR signal is used to generate the image
• image contrast is enhanced.
• MR signal strength is also dependent on the population difference between the nuclear spin states of the imaging nuclei. This is governed by a Boltz ann distribution and is dependent on temperature and magnetic field strength.
• MR imaging contrast enhancement has also been achieved by utilising the "Overhauser effect" in which an esr transition in an administered paramagnetic species is coupled to the nuclear spin system of the imaging nuclei .
• the Overhauser effect also known as dynamic nuclear polarisation
• Most of the Overhauser contrast agents disclosed to date are radicals which are used to effect polarisation of imaging nuclei in vivo . There is very little reported work on techniques which involve ex vivo polarisation of imaging nuclei prior to administration and MR signal measurement.
• US-A-5617859 discloses a magnetic resonance imaging system employing a small, high-field polarizing magnet (e.g. a 15T magnet) to polarize "a frozen material which is then warmed up and administered to a subject placed within the imaging apparatus .
• the material used may be water, saline, a fluorocarbon or a noble gas such as He or Xe . Since the magnetic field in the polarizing magnet is greater than that inside the imaging apparatus and since polarization is effected at low temperature, an increased population difference between the nuclear spin states (i.e. polarization) should result in a stronger MR signal from the polarized material.
• US-A-5545396 discloses an in vivo MR imaging method in which a noble gas (e.g. 129 Xe or 3 He) having a hyperpolarised nuclear spin is inhaled into the lungs and a representation of its spatial distribution therein is generated.
• a noble gas e.g. 129 Xe or 3 He
• MR imaging of the human oral cavity using hyperpolarised 129 Xe was also reported by Albert in J. Mag. Res., 1996: Bill, 204-207.
• hyperpolarised MR contrast agents in MR investigations such as MR imaging has the advantage over conventional MR techniques in that the nuclear polarisation to which the MR signal strength is proportional is essentially independent of the magnetic field strength in the MR apparatus.
• the highest obtainable field strengths in MR imaging apparatus are about 8T, while clinical MR imaging apparatus are available with field strengths of about 0.2 to 1.5T. Since superconducting magnets and complex magnet construction are required for large cavity high field strength magnets, these are expensive.
• Using a hyperpolarised contrast agent since the field strength is less critical it is possible to make images at all field strengths from earth field (40-50 ⁇ T) up to the highest achievable fields.
• the present invention is based on a method of MRI of a sample which relies on ex vivo nuclear polarisation of selected non-hydrogen, I ⁇ O imaging nuclei (e.g. 13 C, 15 N and 29 Si nuclei) of an MR imaging agent by reaction of a precursor to said agent with para-hydrogen enriched hydrogen gas .
• selected non-hydrogen, I ⁇ O imaging nuclei e.g. 13 C, 15 N and 29 Si nuclei
• the present invention provides a method of magnetic resonance investigation of a sample, preferably a human or non-human animal body (e.g. a mammalian, reptilian or avian body), said method comprising :
• the MR signals obtained in the method of the invention may be conveniently converted into 2- or 3- dimensional image data or into functional, flow or perfusion data by conventional manipulations.
• Hydrogen molecules exist in two different forms, namely para-hydrogen (p-H 2 ) where the nuclear spins are antiparallel and out of phase (the singlet state) and ortho hydrogen (o-H 2 ) where they are parallel or antiparallel and in phase (the triplet state) .
• p-H 2 para-hydrogen
• o-H 2 ortho hydrogen
• the two forms exist in equilibrium with a 1:3 ratio of para: ortho hydrogen.
• the ratio is 48:52 and at 20K it approaches 100:0, i.e. 99.8:0.2. Reducing the temperature still further is not beneficial since hydrogen freezes at about 17K.
• enriched hydrogen hydrogen in which there is a higher than equilibrium proportion of para-hydrogen, for example where the proportion of para- hydrogen is more than 25%, preferably more than 30%, preferably 45% or more, more preferably 60% or more, particularly preferably 90% or more, especially preferably 99% or more.
• preparation of enriched hydrogen an optional initial step in the method according to the invention, will be carried out catalytically at low temperatures e.g. at 160K or less, preferably at 80K or less or more preferably at about 2OK.
• the parahydrogen thus formed may be stored for long periods, preferably at low temperature, e.g. 18-20°K. Alternatively it may be stored in pressurized gas form in containers with non-magnetic and non-paramagnetic inner surfaces, e.g. a gold or deuterated polymer coated container.
• a p-H 2 molecule is transferred to a host molecule by means of catalytic hydrogenation (optionally at elevated pressure (e.g. 50 to 100 bar) )
• the proton spins remain antiparallel and begin to relax to thermal equilibrium with the normal time constant T x of the hydrogen in the molecule (typically about one second) .
• T x normal time constant
• some of the polarisation may be transferred to neighbouring nuclei by cross-relaxation or other types of coupling.
• the presence of, for example, a 13 C nucleus with a suitable substitution pattern close to the relaxing hydrogen may lead to the polarisation being conveniently trapped in the slowly relaxing 13 C nucleus.
• a 13 C nucleus in a carbonyl group or in certain quaternary carbons may have a T ⁇ relaxation time typically of more than a minute.
• the hydrogenation step should preferably be performed in the liquid or gaseous phase, preferably in the absence of materials which would promote relaxation. If in the liquid phase, then the catalyst can be removed by filtration through, for example, an ion-exchange resin. If in the gas phase, then separation of a solid catalyst is trivial and the MR imaging agent formed can simply be passed into a suitable solvent, preferably a physiologically tolerable solvent, most preferably water, and used according to the invention.
• a suitable solvent preferably a physiologically tolerable solvent, most preferably water, and used according to the invention.
• MR imaging agent refers to an agent containing nuclei (MR imaging nuclei) capable of emitting magnetic resonance signals.
• the non hydrogen non zero nuclear spin nucleus in the MR imaging agent may be present in its naturally occurring isotopic abundance.
• the nucleus is a non-preponderant isotope (e.g. 13 C where 12 C is the preponderant isotope) it will generally be preferred that the content of the nucleus be enriched, ie. that it is present at a higher than normal level.
• the present invention provides the use of hydrogen (e.g. para- hydrogen enriched hydrogen) in MR imaging of a sample (e.g. a human body), preferably 13 C, or 15 N MR imaging of a sample.
• hydrogen e.g. para- hydrogen enriched hydrogen
• the invention provides the use of para-hydrogen enriched hydrogen for the manufacture of an MR imaging agent for use in a method of diagnosis involving generation of an MR image by non X H MR imaging of a human or non-human animal body.
• the invention provides use of a hydrogenatable compound containing a non hydrogen non- zero nuclear spin nucleus in the manufacture of an MR imaging agent for use in a method of diagnosis involving generation of an MR image by non- proton MR imaging, said manufacture involving hydrogenation of said compound with para-hydrogen enriched hydrogen.
• the images produced may be representations of the value or temporal change in value of a physiological parameter such as temperature, pH, oxygen tension, etc. Morphological images however will generally be produced.
• MR imaging agent precursors suitable for use in the present invention are hydrogenatable and will typically possess one or more unsaturated bonds, e . g. double or triple carbon-carbon bonds.
• the hydrogenated MR imaging agent should of course be physiologically tolerable or be capable of being presented in a physiologically tolerable form.
• the MR imaging agent should preferably be strongly polarisable (for example, to a level of greater than 5%, preferably greater than 10%, more preferably greater than 25%) and have a non-hydrogen MR imaging nucleus with a long T ⁇ relaxation time under physiological conditions, e.g. 13 C, 15 N or 29 Si.
• a long T x relaxation time is meant that T : is such that once polarised, the MR imaging agent will remain so for a period sufficiently long to allow the imaging procedure to be carried out in a comfortable time span.
• Significant polarisation should therefore be retained for at least Is, preferably for at least 60s, more preferably for at least 100s and especially preferably 1000s or longer.
• the coupling constant is preferably between 1 and 300 Hz, more preferably between 10 and 100 Hz. This is preferably achieved by placing the MR imaging nucleus no more than 3 , more preferably no more than 2 bonds away from the para- hydrogen derived hydrogen.
• the nmr signal from the MR imaging nucleus (hereinafter occasionally referred to as the reporter nucleus) , is sharp, preferably with a linewidth (at 37°C in blood or tissue) of less than 100 Hz, more preferably less than 10 Hz, even more preferably less than 1 Hz.
• the MR imaging agent will preferably contain as few non- zero nuclear spin atoms (besides the reporter nucleus and the two protons from the p.H 2 ) as possible which can couple with the reporter nucleus.
• the MR imaging agent contains no more than 10, more preferably no more than 5, still more preferably no more than 2, even more preferably no more than 1, and especially preferably no non- zero nuclear spin nuclei within 3 bonds of the reporter nucleus, and still more preferably within 4 bonds.
• the only non- zero nuclear spin nuclei in the MR imaging agent are the reporter nucleus and the protons from the p.H 2 .
• Quadrupolar nuclei e.g.
• the MR imaging agent should preferably be relatively small (e.g.
• the MR imaging agent precursor likewise is preferably soluble in such solvents or solvent mixtures and desirably is capable of undergoing rapid catalysed hydrogenation, e.g. at a conversion rate of at least lg precursor/min using 2 mole % or less of catalyst .
• the chemical shift, or even better the coupling constant of the nmr signal from the imaging nucleus in the MR imaging agent should preferably be influenced by physiological parameters (e.g.
• the MR imaging agent may conveniently be a material which is transformed (e.g. at a rate such that its half life is no more than 10 x 1 1 of the reporter nucleus, preferably no more than 1 x T x ) in the subject under study to a material in which the reporter nucleus has a different coupling constant or chemical shift.
• the subject may be inanimate or animate, e.g. a human or animal, a cell culture, a membrane-free culture, a chemical reaction medium, etc.
• the reporter nucleus may provide information on the operation of the biochemical machinery of an organism where that machinery transforms the MR imaging agent and in so doing changes the chemical shift or coupling constant of the reporter nucleus.
• the imaging process used in this case may be an nmr spectroscopic procedure rather than (or in addition to) an imaging procedure which generates a morphological image .
• the MR imaging agent should preferably be 13 C or 15 N enriched, particularly preferably 13 C enriched, in positions close to the hydrogenation site, e.g. a double or triple bond, and where relaxation is slow.
• Preferred MR imaging agents according to the invention also exhibit the property of low toxicity.
• the hydrogenated MR imaging agent it may be desirable to incorporate more than one unsaturated bond in each molecule of the precursor, e.g. in a conjugated unsaturated system.
• a conjugated unsaturated system due consideration must be given to the need to keep molecular weight relatively low to prevent difficulties in administration of the agent.
• the presence of one or more C ⁇ C bonds in the hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor increases the reaction rate and may therefore be preferred.
• compounds with an unsaturated carbon- carbon bond with one or more carbonyl substituents e.g. an ⁇ unsaturated carbonyl compound.
• Such MR imaging agents and their precursors which are reporter nucleus enriched, ie. have greater than natural isotopic abundance of the reporter nucleus, are novel and form further aspects of the invention. Viewed from a first of these aspects the invention provides a precursor compound:
• the invention also provides a reporter compound:
• the reporter compounds of the invention which are obtainable by hydrogenation of the precursor compounds of the invention will desirably possess some or all of the desired properties referred to earlier, e.g. solubility, narrow linewidths, coupling constants in the 10 to 100 Hz range, coupling constant sensitivity, chemical shift sensitivity, isotopic make up, etc.
• Preferred precursor compounds for MR imaging agents for use according to the invention desirably contain the following molecular sub-units:
• At least one water-solubilizing moiety ie . a functional group which imparts water solubility to the molecule, e.g. hydroxyl , amine or oxyacid (e.g. carboxyl) groups.
• preferred MR imaging agents for use according to the invention desirably contain the following molecular sub-units:
• At least one water-solubilizing moiety ie . a functional group which imparts water solubility to the molecule, e.g. hydroxyl, amine or oxyacid (e.g. carboxyl ) groups .
• Specifically preferred hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursors for use in the method of the invention include simple unsaturated acids (e.g. acrylic acid, crotonic acid, propionic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid and HOOC.C ⁇ C.COOH) , especially where a carboxyl carbon separated by two or more favourably one bond from the unsaturated bond is 13 C or 13 C enriched, 13 -
• simple unsaturated acids e.g. acrylic acid, crotonic acid, propionic acid, fumaric acid, maleic acid and HOOC.C ⁇ C.COOH
• unsaturated quaternary carbon compounds where the quaternary carbon is separated by two or more preferably one bond from the unsaturated bond and preferably where the quaternary carbon is 13 C or 13 C enriched, e.g.
• R 3 is alkyl, hydroxyalkyl, amino, hydroxyl etc, R is CONHR 2 and R 2 is a conventional hydrophilic group known to be useful in X-ray contrast media such as a straight chain or branched group, preferably a C ⁇ _ 5 group, optionally with one or more CH 2 or CH moieties replaced by oxygen or nitrogen atoms and optionally substituted by one or more groups selected from oxo, hydroxy, amino, carboxyl derivative, and oxo substituted sulphur and phosphorus atoms) .
• 13 C enriched MR imaging agents have 13 C at one particular position (or more than one particular position) in an amount in excess of the natural abundance, i.e above about 1%.
• a single carbon position will have 5% or more 13 C, particularly - 15 - preferably 10% or more, especially preferably 25% or more, more especially preferably 50% or more, even more preferably in excess of 99% (eg 99.9%).
• protons (H) are preferably replaced by deuterons, except perhaps protons which are labile on dissolution (e.g. carboxyl protons) .
• succinic acid which occurs in the citric acid cycle
• 13 C enriched succinic acid especially 13 C enriched succinic acid
• amino acids produced by pH z hydrogenation of a ⁇ carbon- ⁇ carbon unsaturated bond, especially where the carboxyl carbon is 13 C enriched.
• Amides, amines, cyanides and nitroxides or other nitrogen containing MR imaging agents are particularly suitable for 15 N reporter nuclei as are compounds which comprise a ring nitrogen containing heterocycle.
• 15 N reporter nucleus imaging agent is acetyl choline, which is biologically modified and so may be used to study metabolic processes. This imaging agent may be produced by pH 2 hydrogenation of corresponding ethylenically or acetylenically unsaturated precursors, preferably ones enriched in 15 N:
• amino acids especially deuterated versions thereof may be used as vehicles for 15 N.
• Silane and silicone compounds may similarly be used as vehicles for 29 Si.
• Cationic compounds may also be used, e.g. quaternary ammonium salts.
• One especially preferred hydrogenatable or hydrogenated MR imaging agent is maleic acid dimethyl ester which is the hydrogenation product of acetylene dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester.
• Another useful MR imaging agent would be methionine, and thus an unsaturated methionine precursor may advantageously be used as the precursor compound.
• acetylenic compounds such as the following
• H 2 ⁇ 3P Z C 15 N HO3S- -C 15 N
• R is H or C,__ 6 alkyl and R 1 is hydroxylalkyl , or a sulphone or sulphoxide .
• the hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor will undergo hydrogenation in the presence of a suitable catalyst, optionally at elevated temperature or pressure.
• a suitable catalyst optionally at elevated temperature or pressure.
• the hydrogenation catalyst used in the method of the invention need not be a homogeneous catalyst but during hydrogenation the entire hydrogen molecule should be transferred to the host molecule.
• rhodium catalysts are particularly useful in the hydrogenation step, most particularly those rhodium catalysts comprising phosphine groups .
• a further catalytic cycle is shown by way of example in Figure 3.
• the oxidative addition of enriched hydrogen to the catalyst is generally an equilibrium step which means that certain catalysts will also interconvert p-H 2 and o-H 2 . It is therefore desirable that the chosen hydrogenatable MR imaging agent precursor is highly reactive.
• this very low magnetic field is lower than the magnetic field of the earth itself, that is lower than 50 ⁇ T, more preferably less than 10 ⁇ T, even more preferably less than 2 ⁇ T, e.g. 0 to 1 ⁇ T, especially 0.3 to 1 ⁇ T. It is possible to create such low magnetic fields using, for example, commercially available magnetic shielding, for example ⁇ -metal.
• the effect of the magnetic field on the degree of polarization of a reporter nucleus (in this case a 13 C nucleus) is shown in Figure 1.
• the catalyst may preferably be one which is immobilized on a solid material e.g. a polymeric material which allows the catalyst-bound solid material to be rapidly filtered off after reaction.
• a solid material e.g. a polymeric material which allows the catalyst-bound solid material to be rapidly filtered off after reaction.
• Known examples useful for the present method include catalysts covalently linked to a support or adsorbed on silica.
• An alternative way to remove catalyst from an aqueous solution is to run the reaction in the presence of a water-soluble catalyst (e.g. a rhodium catalyst) which may then be removed by filtration through an ion- exchange resin or any other sort of filter that can retain the catalyst and allow the product to pass.
• a water-soluble catalyst e.g. a rhodium catalyst
• filtration may be carried out through a cation exchanger.
• Particularly preferred catalysts are cationic rhodium catalysts .
• Rhodium catalysts transfer hydrogen as a unit to one substrate molecule and therefore avoid problems of H 2 /D 2 scrambling.
• an ion-exchange resin bound cationic complex such as [ (NBD) Rh(Amphos) 2 ] 3+ .
• a neutral catalyst may be separated from the MR imaging agent by making use of physical characteristics such as lipophilicity.
• a lipophilic catalyst e.g. Wilkinson's catalyst
• a biphasic system such as water/C18-derivatised silica or even two immiscible liquids such as water/heptane.
• Hydrogenation may take place advantageously in a non-aqueous media in which the hydrogenation product is insoluble (i.e. from which it precipitates) .
• the increased T x of the solid MR imaging agent allows more time for isolation and subsequent dissolution in an administrable medium.
• Hydrogenation may also take place with the MR imaging agent precursor being insoluble in non-aqueous media but with a particle size as small as possible to increase relative surface area.
• the use of non-aqueous media, preferably media with non- magnetically active nuclei (e.g. CS 2 or C0 2 under supercritical conditions) advantageously reduces polarisation loss from the polarised MR imaging agent and allows the use of an extended range of catalysts.
• the invention provides apparatus for hydrogenation comprising: a reaction chamber having therein a reaction zone, said reaction chamber having a gas inlet and a gas outlet ; a temperature controller arranged to control the temperature in said reaction zone; and magnetic shielding arranged about said reaction zone and sufficient to cause the magnetic field in said reaction zone to be less than 10 ⁇ T, preferably less than 1 ⁇ T.
• the reaction chamber will conveniently be disposed within a generally cylindrical ⁇ -metal shield.
• This shield preferably has several concentric layers, e.g. a ⁇ -metal layer of relatively high permittivity surrounded by a demagnetizing layer, e.g. of copper foil, and in turn surrounded by one or more layers of ⁇ -metal of lower permittivity than the inner layer.
• the inner ⁇ - metal layer is preferably of ⁇ -metal of the highest available permittivity.
• the cylindrical magnetic shield preferably extends in its axial direction beyond the reaction zone by at least the internal diameter of the shield.
• the cylindrical shield may be non-circular in cross- section, e.g. elliptical or polygonal, for example hexagonal.
• the axial extension beyond the reaction zone is preferably by at least the minimum internal "diameter" (e.g. face to face spacing for a hexagonal cross section) but more preferably by at least the maximum internal diameter (e.g. corner to corner spacing for a hexagonal cross section) .
• the reaction zone may be for example comprise a bed of beads through which hydrogen may flow upwards from a lower gas inlet and through which a solution containing hydrogenatable precursor and hydrogenation catalyst may pass down to be removed from the reaction chamber through a lower product outlet.
• the beads may have the catalyst immobilized thereon so that the product solution is catalyst free and may be in a form ready to use.
• the beads are preferably formed from paramagentic material free polymer, glass or silica or are of a non-magnetic metal. Selection of bead size (e.g. 0.5 to 5mm diameter, preferably 2mm), bed depth and choice of direction of hydrogen flow will determine the duration of the reaction (generally 10 to 60 sec.) . The preferred duration and bed depth can be determined by routine experimentation for the selected precursor/catalyst combination.
• the temperature controller will conveniently be a heating/cooling jacket disposed about the reaction zone portion of the reaction chamber and within the shield.
• the materials used are non magnetic.
• a water- or gas-jacket is generally appropriate.
• a temperature sensor may be disposed in or adjacent the reaction zone if desired.
• the reaction chamber has a precursor solution inlet above the reaction zone and an MR imaging agent solution outlet below the reaction zone.
• a source of pH 2 enriched hydrogen is attached to the gas inlet; the reaction chamber is flushed with the enriched hydrogen; water of the desired temperature is flowed through the water-jacket; a quantity of a solution, preferably a sterile aqueous solution, of the precursor compound is introduced into the reaction chamber and into a particulate bed through which the enriched hydrogen is flowing upwardly; and the solution passing out of the bed is withdrawn from the reaction chamber, optionally after reversal of hydrogen flow direction to drive the solution out of the bed.
• the catalyst is not immobilized on the particles of the bed, it will generally be included in the precursor solution, either in dissolved or particulate or supported form. If desired the catalyst may be removed from the product solution, e.g. by precipitation and/or filtration or by passage over a material (e.g. an ion exchange column or lipophilic surface) which has affinity for the catalyst.
• a material e.g. an ion exchange column or lipophilic surface
• Catalyst removal clearly depends on the nature of the catalyst, the precursor, the MR imaging agent and whether the subject to be imaged is a living human or animal or not. Thus for inanimate subjects, catalyst removal may be unnecessary.
• a hydrogenation catalyst soluble in a solvent that is imiscible with water is used and the hydrogenation reaction is carried out in water with a substrate that is soluble in organic solvents but has a distribution constant that favours water. The substrate is extracted into water that is injected i.v.
• a water-soluble polymer bound hydrogenation catalyst is used and the hydrogenation reaction is performed in water with a water-soluble substrate. The catalyst is removed by filtration prior to i.v. injection.
• a solid polymer-bound hydrogenation catalyst is used and the hydrogenation reaction is performed in water with a water-soluble substrate. The catalyst is removed by filtration prior to i.v. injection.
• a solid polymer-bound hydrogenation catalyst is used and the hydrogenation reaction is performed in water with a water-soluble substrate. The catalyst is removed by filtration prior to i.v. injection.
• the withdrawal of the product solution is preferably by passage through a valve into the barrel of a syringe.
• the syringe may then be used to administer the MR imaging agent, e.g. by injection into a human or animal subject.
• the inner walls of the syringe and indeed of any apparatus components contacted by the hydrogenated MR imaging agent are preferably substantially free of paramagnetic (and ferro and ferrimagnetic) materials.
• the period of contact of the MR imaging agent with any surfaces between hydrogenation and administration should preferably be kept to a minimum.
• the apparatus of the invention comprises:
• a reservoir of enriched hydrogen preferably cooled, e.g. to liquid form
• reaction chamber having a- reaction zone containing a particulate bed and having a first gas inlet below said bed, a first gas outlet above said bed, a solution inlet above said bed and a solution outlet below said bed, and preferably a second gas inlet above said bed and optionally a second gas outlet below said bed (optionally since the solution outlet may function as a gas outlet) ;
• a temperature controller e.g. a water or gas jacket, disposed around said reaction chamber at at least said reaction zone;
• the inlets and outlets to the reaction chamber are each preferably provided with a valve or if appropriate a septum and means for attaching vessels, e.g. the hydrogen reservoir, a syringe for receiving the MR imaging agent, a syringe containing the precursor solution, and reservoirs for receiving exhaust hydrogen (for recycling) .
• vessels e.g. the hydrogen reservoir, a syringe for receiving the MR imaging agent, a syringe containing the precursor solution, and reservoirs for receiving exhaust hydrogen (for recycling) .
• Such an apparatus may be set up near the MR imaging apparatus , e.g. so that the imaging agent may be manufactured "on-site” using reservoirs of pH 2 enriched hydrogen supplied from the, normally distant, location where the enriched hydrogen was prepared.
• the apparatus may be arranged for a gas phase reaction with precursor and hydrogen being introduced into the reaction zone in gas form and with the exhaust gas being cooled to separate hydrogen (which will remain gaseous) , precursor, MR imaging agent, and, the hydrogenation catalyst.
• the imaging agent, precursor and if appropriate, the catalyst may be collected separately and removed for optional formulation (e.g. dissolution in an appropriate liquid medium) and administration in the case of the MR imaging agent and for recycling or subsequent reuse in the case of other components.
• the catalyst could be immobilized on a surface (e.g. the surface of beads in a bed or of capillaries in a bundle of parallel capillaries) or could be included in the gas flow as a gas or as entrained droplets or particles .
• reaction zone could be arranged in a spiral or the like within the magnetic shield and the reaction can be performed at elevated temperature and pressure.
• Apparatus comprising shielding, reaction chamber, temperature controller, gas inlets, MR imaging agent separator (e.g. a condenser) and gas outlet arranged for performing the hydrogenation in the gas phase forms a further aspect of the invention.
• the polarised (hydrogenated) MR imaging agent may be stored at low temperature e.g. in frozen form. Generally speaking, at low temperatures the polarisation is retained longer and thus polarised MR imaging agents may conveniently be stored e.g. in liquid nitrogen. Prior to administration, the MR imaging agent may be rapidly warmed to physiological temperatures using conventional techniques such as infrared or microwave radiation.
• the invention provides a physiologically tolerable MR imaging agent composition
• the composition is sterile and is stable at a physiologically tolerable temperature (e.g. at 10-40°C) .
• N is the number of spins in nuclear spin state ⁇ (e.g. + ⁇ -) ;
• N & is the number of spins in nuclear spin state ⁇
• Y is the magnetogyric ratio for the isotopic nucleus in question, e.g. 13 C) ;
• i is Planck's constant divided by 2 ⁇ ;
• B 0 is the magnetic field
• k is Boltzmann's constant
• T is temperature in kelvin.
• P has a maximum value of 1 (100% polarization) and a minimum value of 0 (0% polarization) .
• the maximum polarization obtainable by the low-field para- hydrogen hydrogenation method corresponds to about 0.5 MT.
• the method of the invention should be carried out within the time that the MR imaging agent remains significantly polarised, once hydrogenation has occurred and if desired or necessary the catalyst has been removed, it is desirable for administration of the MR imaging agent to be effected rapidly and for the MR measurement to follow shortly thereafter.
• the sample e.g. body or organ
• the material should be transported to the relevant area at low temperature .
• the preferred administration route for the MR imaging agent is parenteral, e.g. by bolus injection, by intravenous or intra-arterial injection or, where the lungs are to be imaged, by spray, e.g. by aerosol spray. Oral and rectal administration may also be used.
• the method according to the invention has the benefit of being able to provide significant spatial weighting to a generated image.
• the administration of a polarised MR imaging agent to a selected region of a sample means that the contrast effect is, in general, localised to that region. The precise effect of course depends on the extent of biodistribution over the period in which the MR imaging agent remains significantly polarised. In general, specific body volumes (i.e.
• regions of interest such as the vascular system) into which the MR imaging agent is administered may be defined with improved signal to noise properties of the resulting images in these volumes.
• the y-factor of carbon is about of the ⁇ _factor for hydrogen resulting in a Larmor frequency of about 10 MHz at 1 T.
• the rf-absorption in a patient is consequently and advantageously less than in X H imaging.
• a further advantage of MR imaging agents containing polarised 13 C nuclei is the ability to utilise large changes in chemical shift in response to physiological changes, e.g. pH or temperature.
• a "native image" of the sample may be generated to provide structural (e.g. anatomical) information upon which the image obtained in the method according to the invention may be superimposed.
• structural e.g. anatomical
• Such a native image is generally not available where the imaging nucleus is 13 C due to the low natural abundance of 13 C in the body.
• the native image may be conveniently obtained as a proton MR image in an additional step to the method of the invention.
• the MR imaging agent may be conveniently formulated with conventional pharmaceutical or veterinary carriers or excipients.
• MR imaging agent formulations manufactured or used according to this invention may contain, besides the MR imaging agent, formulation aids such as are conventional for therapeutic and diagnostic compositions in human or veterinary medicine but will be clean, sterile and free of paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic contaminants.
• the formulation may for example include stabilizers, antioxidants, osmolality adjusting agents, solubilizing agents, emulsifiers, viscosity enhancers, buffers, etc.
• none of such formulation aids will be paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic.
• the formulation may be in forms suitable for parenteral (e.g. intravenous or intraarterial) or enteral (e.g. oral or rectal) application, for example for application directly into body cavities having external voidance ducts (such as the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, the bladder and the uterus) , or for injection or infusion into the cardiovascular system.
• parenteral e.g. intravenous or intraarterial
• enteral e.g. oral or rectal
• solutions, suspensions and dispersions in physiological tolerable carriers e.g. water
• physiological tolerable carriers e.g. water
• the formulation which preferably will be substantially isotonic, may conveniently be administered at a concentration sufficient to yield a 1 micromolar to IM concentration of the MR imaging agent in the imaging zone; however the precise concentration and dosage will of course depend upon a range of factors such as toxicity, the organ targeting ability of the MR imaging agent, and the administration route.
• the optimum concentration for the MR imaging agent represents a balance between various factors. In general, optimum concentrations would in most cases lie in the range 0. ImM to 10M, especially 0.2mM to IM, more especially 0.5 to 500mM.
• Formulations for intravenous or intraarterial administration would preferably contain the MR imaging agent in concentrations of lOmM to 10M, especially 50mM to 500 mM.
• concentration may conveniently be 0. ImM to 10M, preferably 0.2mM to 10M, more preferably 0.5mM to IM, still more preferably 1.
• Parenterally administrable forms should of course be sterile and free from physiologically unacceptable agents and from paramagnetic, superparamagnetic, ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic contaminants, and should have low osmolality to minimize irritation or other adverse effects upon administration and thus the formulation should preferably be isotonic or slightly hypertonic.
• Suitable vehicles include aqueous vehicles customarily used for administering parenteral solutions such as Sodium Chloride solution, Ringer's solution, Dextrose solution, Dextrose and Sodium Chloride solution, Lactated Ringer's solution and other solutions such as are described in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, 15th ed. , Easton: Mack Publishing Co., pp.
• compositions can contain preservatives, antimicrobial agents, buffers and antioxidants conventionally used for parenteral solutions, excipients and other additives which are compatible with the MR imaging agents and which will not interfere with the manufacture, storage or use of the products .
• Intra-arterial injection is useful for preparing angiograms and intravenous injection for imaging larger arteries and the vascular tree.
• the dosages of the MR imaging agent used according to the method of the present invention will vary according to the precise nature of the MR imaging agents used, of the tissue or organ of interest and of the measuring apparatus. Preferably the dosage should be kept as low as possible whilst still achieving a detectable contrast effect. Typically the dosage will be approximately 10% of LD 50 , eg in the range 1 to lOOOmg/ kg, preferably 2 to 500mg/kg, especially 3 to 300mg/kg.
• the chosen procedures for detecting MR signals are that which is well known from conventional MR scanning. It is advantageous to use fast single shot imaging sequences e.g. EPI , RARE or FSE .
• the polarization which is responsible for the MR signal derives from the equilibrium polarization at the magnetic field of the primary magnet of the MR imaging apparatus. After an imaging sequence, this polarization (the magnetization in the z direction) is recovered by T ⁇ relaxation.
• the MR signal derives from hyperpolarization of the reporter nuclei (e.g. 13 C, 3 He, 129 Xe, 15 N, 29 Si, etc) , the hyperpolarization cannot be recovered and the MR signal following a 90° RF pulse must be recovered by a train of 180° RF pulses.
• the magnetization in the z direction is split into two populations with opposite signs (polarities) of magnetization, +M 0 and -M 0 .
• ⁇ here has the value 1/ (2J) where J is the coupling constant for the reporter nucleus.
• N the image matrix size in the phase- encoding direction.
• Signal detection occurs between the 180° RF pulses. Due to the coupling constant J, there are limitations on the length of the sampling time - if unwanted modulations, and hence ghosting in the phase direction of the image are to be avoided, the sampling time should not exceed 1/ (4J) . Typically the sampling time will be 1 to 8 ms . The inter-echo time should exceed the sampling time as little as technically possible to ensure maximum signal to noise.
• Figure 9 A schematic illustration of this imaging sequence is shown in Figure 9.
• the 180° RF pulses are phase shifted ⁇ /2 relative to the 90° RF pulse, e.g. 90°x - 180°y - 180 °y - ... ; this arrangement is preferred for the imaging sequence described above .
• the problem can be addressed by applying 180° RF pulses (180° RF H ) at the proton frequency simultaneously with the 180° RF pulses (180° RF X ) at the reporter nucleus frequency.
• the effect of the 180° RF H pulse is to change the sign of the J- coupling so that this is not refocussed by the 180° RF X pulse.
• the echo signals from the two magnetization components will progressively begin to reinforce rather than cancel each other out and after sufficient such 180° RF H and 180° RF X pulses, the two magnetization components will be parallel (in phase) . Thereafter no further 180° RF H pulses are required.
• the 180° RF pulses are phase shifted ⁇ /2 relative to the 90° RF pulse.
• the 180° RF X pulses are of the same phase as the 90° RF X pulse.
• the longitudinal magnetization is turned to the xy plane by a single 90° RF X pulse at the beginning of the sequence.
• the full magnetization of the hyperpolarized reporter nuclei is available for generating an image.
• the gain in signal to noise is approximately an order of magnitude.
• a signal may be obtained from a system with two antiparallel resonance lines, without need for asymmetric echoes (ie. where spin echoes and gradient echoes are not aligned) . This is advantageous since the use of asymmetric echoes makes the imaging sequence sensitive to magnetic field inhomogeneities and results in image artefacts.
• the scan time for a single slice is more than 5s if a gradient echo sequence is used.
• the total acquisition time is N (2 ⁇ ), which, depending on the imager, can be reduced to for example 0.5 to 2.5 seconds.
• the method of the invention may also be used for 1 H magnetic resonance imaging using the hydrogen hyperpolarisation introduced by para-hydrogen hydrogenation of an unsaturated bond.
• imaging sequences which bring into phase the +Mo and -Mo magnetisation components are desirably used and the unsaturated bond is desirably between atoms which remain bonded together in the resulting MR imaging agent.
• Figures 2 and 3 are reaction schemes for catalysed hydrogenation of precursor compounds ,-
• Figure 4 is a diagram of a phantom
• Figures 5 to 7 are simulated MR images of the phantom of Figure 4 ;
• Figure 8 is a schematic representation of apparatus according to the invention for hydrogenation in a magnetically shielded reaction zone
• Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a RARE derivative imaging sequence
• Figures 10 and 11 are 13 C MR images of the rat stomach
• Figure 12 is a 1 H-MR image of the rat stomach
• Figure 13 shows a superposition of a 13 C-MR image of the rat stomach on a : H MR image of the same;
• Figure 14 is a 13 C-MR image obtained using a standard RARE-sequence of a phantom containing a constrast agent containing 13 C at natural abundance and hydrogenated by para-hydrogen at low (microtesla) field;
• Figure 15 is an image corresponding to that of Figure 12 but where hydrogenation was effected atearth field;
• Figure 16 is an image corresponding to that of Figure 12 but where hydrogenation was effected atearth field and where the imaging sequence used is a modified RARE-derivative as discussed above;
• Figure 17 is a schematic illustration of a modified RARE imaging sequence.
• the hydrogenation apparatus 1 comprises a generally cylindrical glass reaction chamber 2, e.g. of 5 to 50 mm internal diameter, containing a bed 3 of glass beads defining a reaction zone and surrounded by thermostatted water jacket 4 having inlet 4a and outlet 4b and four-layer magnetic shield 5.
• the reaction chamber is closed at the top by a rubber septum 7 and is provided with an outlet valve 8 at its base.
• a para-hydrogen source (not shown) is attached to a gas conduit 9 which can lead into the reaction chamber above or below bed 3 depending on the position of valve 10.
• parahydrogen may be vented from the reaction chamber through valve 11 and outlet 12.
• Precursor compound and catalyst may be introduced into the reaction chamber using a syringe 13 with a needle capable of piercing the septum.
• valve 11 Before use, water at 42 °C is circulated through the water jacket for at least 10 minutes. Valve 11 is opened, and valve 10 is put in position to allow parahydrogen flow into the reaction chamber through the lower (14) of inlets 14 and 15. Valve 8 is closed. Flow of para-hydrogen is commenced. A flow of 130 mL/min is suitable where the reaction chamber internal diameter is 15 mm and the beads are 3 mm diameter. After 30 seconds, a solution of precursor and catalyst may be injected through septum 7. After the hydrogenation reaction is completed, e.g. after 40 seconds, valve 10 is moved to direct para-hydrogen flow into the reaction chamber through upper inlet 15, valve 8 is opened and valve 11 is closed. The solution passing out through valve 8 is collected.
• a mathematically defined phantom according to Figure 4 was used to input all calculations.
• the 13 C was assumed to be in a bolus and the magnitude of the magnetization was raised to five times the magnitude used for hydrogen. 50% polarisation was assumed and the concentration was 45. OmM.
• the blood containing contrast agent uses the relaxation times found when the bolus tracking technique is utilized.
• Hyperpolarised helium was assumed to be in form of a gas at 1 atm and the relaxation times were chosen in accordance with Bachert et al. Magn. Res. in Medicine, 36: 192-196 (1996) when the gas is present inside the lungs .
• a fast gradient echo sequence FLASH
• FLASH fast gradient echo sequence
• TR/TE/ 8ms/2ms/30°
• the helium pulse sequence was 8ms/2ms/3°.
• the enhancement gain of the He-magnetization is in this way divided during the imaging process .
• a RARE (Fast Spin Echo) sequence was used to generate the 13 C image. Eight interleaves were used in order to simulate the situation found when imaging the heart using gating. The 13 C magnetization behaved the same way as the He magnetization i.e. no new magnetization was generated due to ⁇ -relaxation during the imaging process. During the calculation the 13 C were modelled in the form of a bolus and between the interleave in the pulse sequence the excited magnetization was replaced with fresh magnetization. If a static object was imaged the sequence could have been performed as a single shot sequence without (due to the long T 2 value) any loss in signal amplitude.
• the protons and the helium do not show up.
• the signal from 13 C appears bright and no background from other tissues is present.
• the selected RARE sequence may be considered T 2 -weighted.
• the image was generated using a multi shot technique but a single shot version would (due to the long T 2 -value) result in the same signal amplitude.
• the signal amplitude in the ROI was
• the generated signal amplitude and SNR values indicate the already recognised utility of helium as a contrast agent in lung imaging. If the gas was dissolved in blood the signal amplitude would drop considerably (Martin et al . , J. Mag. Res. Imaging, 1997, 7, 848-851) .
• the 13 C image indicated that when the polarisation of enriched hydrogen is transferred to a 13 C-atom in a suitable organic molecule images with high SNR may be generated. Due to the long ⁇ and T 2 , modern fast single shot sequences may be used. Whilst the 13 C- fluid behaves as a bolus the long Tl will make it possible to reach the heart with only a moderate loss in signal amplitude even if it is administered by i.v. injection.
• Acetylene dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester (0.5 g) with a natural abundance of 13 C, and (bicyclo [2.2.1] hepta-2 , 5-diene) [1,4- bis (diphenylphosphino) butane] rhodium(I) tetrafluoroborate (0.12mmol) in a solution of deuteroacetone (5 ml) was hydrogenated with hydrogen gas enriched in para-hydrogen (50%) for 40 seconds with a jacket temperature of 42°C in the hydrogenation reactor described above in connection with Figure 8 with the magnetic screen in place.
• the solution was transferred to an nmr-tube and, following a 90° pulse, a spectrum was recorded at the 13 C frequency in a 7T NMR-spectrometer within 20 seconds after the reaction was finished.
• the intensity of the signal was compared to a standard sample and was found to be 1500 times the thermodynamic signal at 25° and 7T. It was necessary to detune the NMR-probe significantly to be able to perform proper excitations on such a highly polarized sample.
• Acetylene dicarboxylic acid dimethyl ester (6 mmol) with a natural abundance of 13 C, and (bicyclo [2.2.1]hepta-2,5-diene) [1,4- bis (diphenylphosphino) butane] rhodium (I) tetrafluoroborate (0.23mmol) in a solution of deuteroacetone (10 ml) was hydrogenated with hydrogen gas enriched in para-hydrogen (50%) for 40 seconds with a jacket temperature of 42 °C in the hydrogenation reactor described above in connection with Figure 8 with the magnetic screen removed.
• the sample was transferred to a vial and placed in the magnet of an imaging magnet and a picture was recorded within 30 seconds after the reaction was finished.
• the image shown in Figure 16 was obtained and after calibration with a standard sample the signal enhancement was calculated to be 225 times the polarization obtained at equilibrium at 2.4 T and 20°C.
• the special pulse sequence described above and shown schematically in Figure 9 was used (90x- 19.2ms, 5 ms- (180y-10ms)x64) .
• the focusing delay was set to 19.2 ms and the inter-echo delay was set to 10 ms .
• the hydrogenated sample was transferred to a syringe and injected into the stomach of a rat.
• the rat was then placed in the imaging magnet and a picture was recorded using the same pulse sequence as above.
• the proton image of the rat in the same position was also obtained.
• a control experiment where the pulse sequence was repeated after relaxation of the contrast agent was also performed. No image could be detected in this case. The results are shown in Figures 10 to 13.

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